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MMA fans can always guarantee that when there is a Super Bowl Sunday, the UFC will present a “Super Saturday†of fights to proceed the big event. This year’s event will be headlined by a pair of title bouts as both Renan Barao and Jose Aldo will be defensing their belts. Also, a pair of heavyweight’s battle to remain employed and a former WEC Lightweight Champion makes his pay-per-view return.
Kicking off the action is a lightweight division battle as Abel “Killa†Trujillo (11-5-0-1NC) competes against Jamie “C-4†Varner (21-8-1-2NC). Trujillo has won two of four under the UFC banner, with a notable win over Roger Bowling at UFC On Fox IX. Varner has rotated wins and losses throughout his second UFC run, with his last fight being a loss to Gleison Tibau at UFC 164. These are two fighters who are looking to build some momentum, but it will be Trujillo out striking the former WEC Lightweight Champion to get a big win.
Flyweight division action is up next as Ali “Puncher King†Bagautinov (12-2-0) does battle against John “Hands Of Stone†Lineker (23-6-0). Bagautinov is currently undefeated in UFC competition, having defeated both Marcos Vinicius and Tim Elliot. Lineker will enter the fight riding a four fight winning streak, last defeating Phil Harris at UFC Fight Night 30. The winner of this bout could get very close to a title shot and it will be Lineker getting that potential shot.
A pair of heavyweights will clash next as Frank Mir (16-8-0) takes on Alistair “Demolition Man†Overeem (36-13-0-1NC). Mir will enter the fight riding a three fight losing streak and he has not won a fight in well over two full years. Overeem has only won one of three under the UFC banner, with that lone win coming over Brock Lesnar at UFC 141. Neither fighter has the gas tank to extend the fight to the later rounds, but Overeem will have enough in the tank to defeat Mir and save his job.
Up next is a UFC Featherweight Title bout as champion Jose “Scarface†Aldo (23-1-0) defends against Ricardo "The Bully" Lamas (13-2-0). Aldo will be making the eighth defense of his championship, last defending it against Chan Sung Jung at UFC 163. Lamas earned a title shot after winning four straight in the UFC, last defeating Erik Koch at UFC On Fox VI. Lamas is a worthy challenger to Aldo, but Aldo has far more tools at his disposal and that will carry him to another successful title defense.
Headlining this card is a UFC bantamweight Title fight as champion Renan Barao (31-1-0-1NC) will defend against “The California Kid†Urijah Faber (30-6-0). Barao will be making the first defense of the unified belt, as he was previous the UFC Interim Bantamweight Champion after injuries to then champion Dominick Cruz. Faber lost the first bout between the two at UFC 149, but has since won four straight fights under the UFC banner. Each fighter has improved greatly since the first encounter at UFC 149, but Barao will hold onto the belt in the end.
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